U.S. patent number 5,163,866 [Application Number 07/693,922] was granted by the patent office on 1992-11-17 for disc-type coin sorter with multiple-path queuing.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Cummins-Allison Corp.. Invention is credited to James M. Rasmussen.
United States Patent |
5,163,866 |
Rasmussen |
November 17, 1992 |
Disc-type coin sorter with multiple-path queuing
Abstract
A coin sorter having a rotatable disc, a drive motor for
rotating the disc, a stationary sorting head having a lower surface
parallel to the upper surface of the rotatable disc and spaced
slightly therefrom, the lower surface of the sorting head forming a
channel for receiving coins passing beneath the inner edge of the
sorting head and guiding those coins as the coins are carried along
the lower surface of the sorting head by the rotating disc. The
channel has an inner wall which extends outwardly away from the
center of rotation of the disc, and then returns inwardly toward
the center of rotation for a short distance before terminating, an
outer wall which is substantially parallel to the inner wall, and a
middle wall between the inner and outer walls. The middle wall
extends inwardly from the outer wall along at least a major portion
of the outer wall which extends outwardly from the center of
rotation of the disc, and then merges with that portion of the
outer wall which returns inwardly toward the center of
rotation.
Inventors: |
Rasmussen; James M. (Chicago,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Cummins-Allison Corp. (Mt.
Prospect, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
24786686 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/693,922 |
Filed: |
April 29, 1991 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
453/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07D
3/128 (20130101); G07D 9/008 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07D
9/00 (20060101); G07D 3/12 (20060101); G07D
3/00 (20060101); G07D 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;453/6,10,32 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bartuska; F. J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Arnold, White & Durkee
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A coin sorter comprising
a rotatable disc,
means for rotating said disc,
a stationary sorting head having a lower surface parallel to the
upper surface of said rotatable disc and spaced slightly
therefrom,
the lower surface of said sorting head forming a channel for
receiving coins passing beneath the inner edge of the sorting head
and guiding those coins as the coins are carried along the lower
surface of the sorting head by the rotating disc, said channel
having
an inner wall which extends outwardly away from the center of
rotation of said disc, and then returns inwardly toward said center
of rotation for a short distance before terminating,
an outer wall which is substantially parallel to said inner wall,
and
a middle wall between said inner and outer walls, said middle wall
extending inwardly from said outer wall along at least a major
portion of that portion of the outer wall which extends outwardly
from the center of rotation of said disc, and then merging with
that portion of said outer wall which returns inwardly toward said
center of rotation, the radius of said middle wall from said center
of rotation increasing in the direction of coin movement, and then
remaining constant to merge with the returning portion of said
outer wall.
2. The coin sorter of claim 1 wherein said middle wall is beveled
to allow coins to be forced under that wall.
3. The coin sorter of claim 1 wherein the ceiling of said channel
inwardly of said middle wall is farther above the upper surface of
said rotating disc than the ceiling of said channel outwardly of
said middle wall.
4. The coin sorter of claim 1 wherein the height of said inner wall
is less than the thickness of the thinnest coin.
5. The coin sorter of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said
middle wall is spaced from said inner wall by a distance that is
less than twice the diameter of the smallest-diameter coin.
6. The coin sorter of claim 1 wherein the ceiling of said channel
in the region between said outer and middle walls is spaced from
the upper surface of said disc by a distance that is less than the
thickness of the thinnest coin.
7. A coin sorter comprising
a rotatable disc,
means for rotating said disc,
a stationary sorting head having a lower surface parallel to the
upper surface of said rotatable disc and spaced slightly
therefrom.
the lower surface of said sorting head forming a channel for
receiving coins passing beneath the inner edge of the sorting head
and guiding those coins as the coins are carried along the lower
surface of the sorting head by the rotating disc, said channel
having
an inner wall which extends outwardly away from the center of
rotation of said disc, and then returns inwardly toward said center
of rotation for a short distance before terminating,
an outer wall which is substantially parallel to said inner wall,
and
a middle wall between said inner and outer walls, said middle wall
extending inwardly from said outer wall along at least a major
portion of the outer wall which extends outwardly from the center
of rotation of said disc, and then merges with that portion of said
outer wall which returns inwardly toward said center of rotation,
the radius of said middle wall from said center of rotation
increasing in the direction of coin movement, and then remaining
constant to merge with the returning portion of said outer
wall.
8. A coin sorter comprising
a rotatable disc,
means for rotating said disc,
a stationary sorting head having a lower surface parallel to the
upper surface of said rotatable disc and spaced slightly therefrom,
said sorting head forming a feed aperture for admitting coins
between said sorting head and said disc,
the lower surface of said sorting head forming a generally spiral
channel having inner and outer walls for guiding coins radially
outwardly away from the periphery of said feed aperture as the
coins are carried along the lower surface of the sorting head by
the rotating disc,
said channel having a middle wall, between the inner and outer
walls of the channel, with the channel region inwardly of said
middle wall being deeper than the channel region outwardly of said
middle wall, said inner and middle walls converging until said
middle wall reaches its maximum radial distance from the center of
rotation of said disc, and said outer and middle walls converging
and ultimately merging after said middle wall reaches said maximum
radial distance from said center of rotation.
9. The coin sorter of claim 8 wherein said inner and middle walls
converge to a minimum radial spacing that is substantially equal to
the diameter of the smallest-diameter coin having a thickness
greater than the vertical distance between said disc and said
deeper channel region.
10. A coin sorter comprising
a rotatable disc,
means for rotating said disc,
a stationary sorting head having a lower surface parallel to the
upper surface of said rotatable disc and spaced slightly therefrom,
said sorting head forming a feed aperture for admitting coins
between said sorting head and said disc,
the lower surface of said sorting head forming a generally spiral
channel having inner and outer walls for guiding coins radially
outwardly away from the periphery of said feed aperture as the
coins are carried along the lower surface of the sorting head by
the rotating disc,
said channel having a middle wall, between the inner and outer
walls of the channel, with the channel region inwardly of said
middle wall being deeper than the channel region outwardly of said
middle wall, said inner and middle walls converging until said
middle wall reaches its maximum radial distance from the center of
rotation of said disc,
and said outer and middle walls converging, and ultimately merging
after said middle wall reaches said maximum radial distance from
said center of rotation.
11. A coin sorter comprising
a rotatable disc,
means for rotating said disc,
a stationary sorting head having a lower surface parallel to the
upper surface of said rotatable disc and spaced slightly therefrom,
said sorting head forming a feed aperture for admitting coins
between said sorting head and said disc,
the lower surface of said sorting head forming a generally spiral
channel having inner and outer walls for guiding coins radially
outwardly away from the periphery of said feed aperture as the
coins are carried along the lower surface of the sorting head by
the rotating disc,
said channel having a middle wall, between the inner and outer
walls of the channel, with the channel region inwardly of said
middle wall being deeper than the channel region outwardly of said
middle wall, said inner wall diverging from said middle wall after
said middle wall reaches said maximum radial distance from said
center of rotation.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to coin sorting devices
and, more particularly, to coin sorters of the type which use a
resilient disc rotating beneath a stationary sorting head for
sorting coins of mixed denominations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an
improved coin sorter which is capable of processing a wide variety
of different coin sizes, e.g., the coin sets of different
countries, without any significant changes in accuracy of
throughput rate.
Another related object of the invention is to provide such an
improved coin sorter which facilitates the alignment of coins of
mixed denominations in a single layer and in single file.
It is another important object of this invention to provide an
improved coin sorter which increases the throughput rate of coins
processed by the sorter.
A further object of this invention is to provide an improved coin
sorter which improves the separation of coins which are stacked on
or overlap each other.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from
the following detailed description and the accompanying
drawings.
In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objectives
are realized by providing a coin sorter comprising a rotatable
disc, means for rotating the disc, a stationary sorting head having
a lower surface parallel to the upper surface of the rotatable disc
and spaced slightly therefrom, the lower surface of the sorting
head forming a channel for receiving coins passing beneath the
inner edge of the sorting head and guiding those coins as the coins
are carried along the lower surface of the sorting head by the
rotating disc, the channel having an inner wall which extends
outwardly away from the center of rotation of the disc, and then
returns inwardly toward the center of rotation for a short distance
before terminating, an outer wall which is substantially parallel
to the inner wall, and a middle wall between the inner and outer
walls, the middle wall extending inwardly from the outer wall along
at least a major portion of the outer wall which extends outwardly
from the center of rotation of the disc, and then merges with that
portion of the outer wall which returns inwardly toward the center
of rotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is perspective view of a coin sorter embodying the present
invention, with portions thereof broken away to show the internal
structure;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken generally along the
line 2--2 in FIG. 1 to show the configuration of the underside of
the sorting head or guide plate;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the right-hand portion of FIG. 2,
with various coins superimposed thereon;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 4--4 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 5--5 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 6--6 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 7--7 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 8--8 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the right-hand portion of FIG. 2,
with various coins superimposed thereon;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 10--10 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 11--11 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 12--12 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 13--13 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 14--14 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the right-hand portion of FIG. 2,
with various coins superimposed thereon;
FIG. 16 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 16--16 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 17 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 17--17 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 18 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 18--18 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 19 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 19--19 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 20 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 20--20 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of the right-hand portion of FIG. 2,
with various coins superimposed thereon;
FIG. 22 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 22--22 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 23 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 23--23 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 24 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 24--24 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 25 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 25--25 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 26 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 26--26 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 27 is an enlarged view of the right-hand portion of FIG. 2,
with various coins superimposed thereon;
FIG. 28 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 28--28 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 29 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 29--29 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 30 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 30--30 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 31 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 31--31 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 32 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 32--32 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 33 is an enlarged view of the right-hand portion of FIG. 2,
with various coins superimposed thereon;
FIG. 34 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 34--34 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 35 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 35--35 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 36 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 36--36 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;
FIG. 37 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 37--37 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation; and
FIG. 38 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 38--38 in
FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and
alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by
way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It
should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the
invention to the particular form described, but, on the contrary,
the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
Turning now to the drawings and referring first to FIG. 1, a hopper
10 receives coins of mixed denominations and feeds them through a
central feed aperture in an annular sorting head or guide plate 12.
As the coins pass through the feed aperture, they are deposited on
the top surface of a rotatable disc 13. This disc 13 is mounted for
rotation on a stub shaft (not shown) and driven by an electric
motor 14. The disc 13 comprises a resilient pad 16, preferably made
of a resilient rubber or polymeric material, bonded to the top
surface of a solid metal disc 17.
As the disc 13 is rotated, the coins deposited on the top surface
thereof tend to slide outwardly over the surface of the pad 16 due
to centrifugal force. As the coins move outwardly, those coins
which are lying flat on the pad 16 enter the gap between the pad
surface and the sorting head 12 because the underside of the inner
periphery of the sorting head is spaced above the pad 16 by a
distance which is about the same as the thickness of the thickest
coin.
As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the outwardly moving coins
initially enter an annular recess 20 formed in the underside of the
sorting head 12 and extending around a major portion of the inner
periphery of the sorting head. The outer wall 21 of the recess 20
extends downwardly to the lowermost surface 22 of the sorting head,
which is preferably spaced from the top surface of the pad 16 by a
distance e.g., 0.010 inch, which is slightly less, e.g., 0.010
inch, than the thickness of the thinnest coin. Consequently, the
initial radial movement of the coins is terminated when they engage
the wall 21 of the recess 20, though the coins continue to move
circumferentially along the wall 21 by the rotational movement of
the pad 16. Overlapping coins which only partially enter the recess
20 are stripped apart by a notch 20a formed in the top surface of
the recess 20 along its inner edge (see FIG. 2).
The only portion of the central opening of the guide plate 12 which
does not open directly into the recess 20 is that sector of the
periphery which is occupied by a land 23 whose lower surface is at
a slightly higher elevation than the lowermost surface 22 of the
sorting head. The upstream end of the land 23 forms a ramp 23a
(FIG. 2). When such a coin has only partially entered the recess
20, it engages the ramp 23a on the leading edge of the land 23. The
ramp 23a presses the coin downwardly into the resilient pad 16,
which causes the coin to be recirculated.
Coins which clear the ramp 23a enter a spiral channel 30 which
guides the coins to a gaging channel 40. Recycling channels 51 and
52 are provided at the outlets of the channels 30 and 40,
respectively, for recycling coins which do not have their outer
edges close to the outer walls of the respective channels.
The spiral channel 30 causes coins of different thicknesses and/or
diameters to follow different paths which facilitate the queuing of
the coins and increase the coin throughout rate. Though following
different paths, the coins of all denominations exit the spiral
channel 30 with a common edge (the outer edges of all coins)
aligned at the same or approximately the same radial position so
that the opposite (inner) edges of the coins can be used for
sorting.
The spiral channel 30 includes an inner channel region defined by
an inner wall 31 and a middle wall 32, and an outer channel region
defined by the middle wall 32 and an outer wall 33. The inner
channel region is deeper than the outer channel region, and the
middle wall 32 is tapered to enable coins to pass under that wall
under certain conditions to be described below. Coins of different
thicknesses and/or diameters follow different paths within one or
both of the channel regions, and these different paths have been
separately illustrated in FIGS. 3-8, 9-14, 15-20, 21-26, 27-32 and
33-38.
Referring first to FIGS. 3-8, these figures illustrate the path
followed by small, thin coins in a single layer. These are coins
having a diameter smaller than the width of the channel region
between the inner wall 31 and the middle wall 32 of the channel,
and thin enough to avoid being pressed into the resilient pad. Such
coins are guided through the channel by the middle wall 32, exiting
with their outer edges at the desired gaging radius R.sub.g.
Because the outer region of the channel, between the middle wall 32
and the outer wall 33, is spaced from the resilient pad by a
distance that is less than the thickness of the thinnest coin, the
only coins that pass outwardly over the middle wall 32 are those
that are wider than the radial distance between the inner and
middle walls; such coins are forced over the middle wall 32 by the
inner wall 31 of the channel. Coins guided by either the middle
wall 32 or the outer wall 33 have their outer edges aligned at the
same gaging radius R.sub.g because the middle and outer walls merge
at the end of the spiral channel 30.
The dual spiral channel 30 is particularly useful in queuing small
coins which enter the channel in staggered relationship, as
illustrated in FIGS. 9-14, for example. As such coins are advanced
along the spiral channel 30 by the rotating disc, the spacing
between any pair of successive coins gradually increases due to the
increasing radius of the coin path. At the same time, coins guided
by the inner wall 31 move ahead of coins guided by the middle wall
32, because the radius of the inner wall 31 increases at a faster
rate than that of the middle wall 32. Moreover, the distance
between the inner and middle walls 31 and 32 is progressively
decreased. The effect of all these variables is to gradually bring
coins which are staggered at the inlet end of the channel 30 into
single file by the time they reach the point where the distance
between the inner and middle walls 31 and 32 at its minimum. This
alignment of the coins into a single file is achieved progressively
along the length of the spiral channel, so that the coins move
smoothly and continuously through the channel at high throughput
rates.
The illustrative spiral channel 30 also strips apart stacked or
shingled coins, as illustrated in FIGS. 15-20. In general, the
combined thickness of a pair of stacked or shingled coin is great
enough to cause the lower coin in that pair to be pressed into the
resilient pad. Consequently, that pair of coins will be rotated
concentrically with the disc, as illustrated by the coin pairs C16,
and C17 in FIGS. 15-17. Because the inner wall 31 spirals
outwardly, the upper coin will eventually engage the upper vertical
portion of the inner wall 31, as illustrated in FIG. 17, and the
lower coin will engage the tapered lower portion of the inner wall,
as also illustrated in FIG. 17, and pass under that wall (see FIG.
18). As shown in FIG. 15, the latter coin will be recirculated back
to the entry region of the sorting head and will later re-enter the
spiral channel.
Small, thick coins follow the path illustrated in FIGS. 21-26.
These coins have a diameter small enough to enable them to enter
and remain between the middle and outer walls 31 and 32 throughout
the entire length of the spiral channel 30. The thickness of these
coins, however, is greater than the distance between the channel
ceiling and the resilient pad, as a result of which the coins are
pressed into the resilient pad (see FIG. 22). Consequently, these
coins are not free to follow the middle wall 32 as it spirals
outwardly, but rather move concentrically with the disc until they
engage the inner wall 31 (see FIGS. 22 and 23). They are then
guided by the inner wall 31 until they reach the position of coin
C24, at which point the radius of the inner wall 31 begins to
decrease.
As the inner wall 31 drops away from the advancing coin, the coin
once again moves concentrically with the disc because the coin is
still pressed into the resilient pad (see FIG. 25). The channel 30
is preferably designed so that the minimum distance between the
inner and middle walls, i.e., at the location of coin C24 in FIG.
21, is about the same as the diameter of the smallest coin that is
thick enough to be pressed into the resilient pad in the channel
region between the inner and middle walls. Consequently, when such
a coin reaches the point where that distance is a minimum, the
outer edge of the coin is adjacent the middle wall, as shown in
FIG. 24. The radius of the middle wall 32 remains constant at the
desired gaging radius R.sub.g from that point to the end of the
channel 30, and thus the small, thick coins exit the channel 30
with the outer edges of the coins at the gaging radius R.sub.g.
Because the middle wall 32 is tapered (preferably at an angle of
less than 45.degree. from vertical), slight variations in the
diameter of the small, thick coins merely cause the outer edges of
such coins to be positioned at various elevations on that taper, or
even slightly inwardly of the taper. At the outermost end of the
channel 30, where the middle and outer walls merge, the wall
engaging the outer edges of the coins becomes vertical at the
innermost radius of the tapered portion of the middle wall. Thus,
the outer edges of all the coins are ultimately aligned at the same
gaging radius R.sub.g.
Thick coins which have a diameter greater that the minimum distance
between the inner and middle walls 31 and 32 follow the path shown
in FIGS. 27-32. Because these coins are pressed into the resilient
pad, they are rotated concentrically with the disc until they
engage the inner wall 31 (see FIG. 28) and are then guided by that
inner wall until they reach its maximum radius (coin C30). Because
the radius of the inner wall 31 increases at a faster rate than
that of the middle wall 32, these two walls gradually converge. As
a result, the outer portion of a thick coin guided by the inner
wall 32 gradually rides down and under the tapered middle wall 32,
as illustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30.
As the inner wall 31 drops away from the inner edge of such a coin,
the coin once again rotates concentrically with the disc until the
outer edge of the coin engages the outer wall 33. Any coin which
extends outwardly beyond the middle wall 32 will ultimately engage
the outer wall 33 because the radius of the outer wall is
progressively reduced toward the outlet end of the spiral channel
30 so that the outer wall finally merges with the constant radius
portion of the middle wall. Consequently, these large thick coins
also emerge from the spiral channel 30 with their outer edges
aligned at the gaging radius R.sub.g.
Thin coins which have a diameter greater than the minimum distance
between the inner and middle walls 31 and 32 follow the path shown
in FIGS. 33-38. These coins are not pressed into the resilient pad
in the relatively deep channel region between the inner and middle
walls 31 and 32, and thus such coins move outwardly until they
engage the middle wall 32. The coins follow that middle wall until
the inner edges of the coins come into engagement with the inner
wall 31, which gradually forces the outer portions of the coins
under the tapered middle wall 32, as illustrated by coin C36 (FIG.
36). It can be seem that the effect will be the same for a thin
coin of any diameter greater than the minum width between the inner
and middle walls 31 and 32. As the inner wall 31 drops away from
the inner edges of such coins, the outer edges of the coins ride
upwardly over the tapered middle wall 32 and are then guided by the
uppermost edge of the middle wall to the outlet of the spiral
channel 30.
It can occur that correctly aligned coins passing under the
recycling channel 51 can be slightly shifted in their radial
position. To correct this, coins which pass the recycling channel
51 enter the gaging channel 40 which allows the coins to be
realigned against the radially outer wall 41. The channel 40 and
wall 41 allow the coins in the sorting path an opportunity to
realign their outer edges at the radial position required for
correct sorting.
Beyond the gaging channel 40, the sorting head 12 forms a series of
exit channels 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 which function as
selecting means to discharge coins of different denominations at
different circumferential locations around the periphery of the
sorting head. Thus, the channels 60-67 are spaced circumferentially
around the outer periphery of the sorting head 12, with the
innermost edges of successive channels located progressively
farther away from the common radial location of the outer edges of
all coins for receiving and ejecting coins in order of increasing
diameter. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the eight
channels 60-67 are positioned and dimensioned to successively eject
the eight Australian coins, namely, the 1-cent coins (channel 60),
5-cent conis (channel 61), 2-dollar coins (channel 62), 2-cent
coins (channel 63), 10-cent coins (channel 64), 1-dollar coins
(channel 65), 20-cent coins (channel 66) and 50-cent coins (channel
67). The innermost edges of the exit channels 60-67 are positioned
so that the inner edge of a coin of only one particular
denomination can enter each channel; the coins of all other
denominations reaching a given exit channel extend inwardly beyond
the innermost edge of that particular channel so that those coins
cannot enter the channel and, therefore, continue on to the next
exit channel.
For example, the first exit channel 60 is intended to discharge
only 1-cent coins, and thus the innermost edges 60a of this channel
is located at a radius that is spaced inwardly from the radius of
the gaging wall 41 by a distance that is only slightly greater than
the diameter of a 1-cent coin. Consequently, only 1-cent coins can
enter the channel 60. Because the outer edges of all denominations
of coins are located at the same radial position when they leave
the gaging channel 40, the inner edges of all denominations other
than the 1-cent coin extend inwardly beyond the innermost edge 60a
of the channel 60, thereby preventing these coins from entering
that particular channel.
Of the coins that reach channel 61, the inner edges of only the
5-cent coins are located close enough to the outer periphery of the
sorting head 12 to enter that exit channel. The inner edges of all
other denominations extend inwardly beyond the innermost edge of
the channel 61 so that they remain gripped between the sorting head
and the resilient pad. Consequently, such coins are rotated past
the channel 61 and continue on to the next exit channel.
Similarly, only 2-dollar coins can enter the channel 62, only
2-cent coins can enter the channel 63, only 10-cent coins can enter
the channel 64, only 1-dollar coins can enter the channel 65, only
20-cent coins can enter the channel 66, and only 50-cent coins can
enter the channel 67.
* * * * *